Plug connector with a locking device

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector with a locking device for locking the plug connector to a mating plug connector which is plugged in an intended manner, wherein the plug connector has a housing on which the locking device is rotatably mounted, and the locking device has at least one elastically deformable latching hook. The housing has a latch recess for each latching hook, and the locking device can be latched and fixed to the housing in a specified rotational position relative to the housing by deflecting each latching hook into the latch recess as soon as the locking device has been actuated into a specified plug position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connector with a locking device for locking the connector with a mating connector inserted as intended or to a plug connection comprising a connector and a mating connector that can be inserted into the connector.

[0002] A variety of connectors with locking devices are known in the prior art. A common problem is that the locking devices are freely movable on the connector unless they lock the connector to a mating connector.

[0003] This often makes assembly and locking time-consuming and therefore expensive, since the locking device for assembly must be manually moved and held in a predetermined position and may only be moved when the mating connector has been properly inserted.

[0004] Further connectors in this field of technology are known, for example, from the documents DE 10 2018 217 838 A1 and DE 10 2007 001 514 A1.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the object of overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages and of providing a connector with a locking device, the locking device of which is held in a proper position or position during the plugging process.

[0006] This problem is solved by the combination of features according to patent claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, a connector with a locking device for locking the connector to a properly inserted mating connector is proposed, as defined by claim 1. The connector has a housing on which the locking device is rotatably mounted. The locking device forms or has at least one elastically deformable locking hook. Corresponding to the at least one locking hook, the housing has a locking recess for each locking hook.

[0008] It is further provided that the locking device can be latched to the housing by means of a spring-loaded locking hook into the respectively associated locking recess in a predetermined rotational position relative to the housing and can thus be fixed as soon as the locking device has been actuated into a predetermined plug-in position. The at least one latching hook latched into the respective locking recess is accordingly in its latching position. The at least one latching hook is further designed to be released from its latching position, which is spring-loaded into the respective locking recess, by an unlocking means of the mating connector during a plug-in process of the plug connector with the mating connector, in that the at least one latching hook is at least partially pressed out of the respectively associated locking recess by the unlocking means.If the at least one locking hook is at least partially pushed out of the respective locking recess by the unlocking means, the locking device, with the locking hook released from the locking position, can be rotated from the plug-in position to a locking position when the mating connector is properly mated to the connector. In the locking position, the connector and the mating connector are locked or fixed to each other by the locking device.

[0009] The basic inventive idea is that the locking device is locked in a predetermined plug-in position by the elastic locking hook(s), so that a mating connector can be plugged into the connector as intended, without the locking device interfering with the plug-in process. Only when the mating connector is plugged in as intended, i.e., correctly, can the locking device be released from its plug-in position and moved into the locking position, in which the connector and mating connector are locked or fixed to each other. The release or unlatching of the locking hooks should occur automatically during the plug-in process and not require any additional steps when establishing the plug-in connection.

[0010] An advantageous development provides that the locking device is a bracket that at least partially encompasses the housing. In particular, the bracket can be formed integrally with a lever. Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the locking device has two locking hooks provided on opposing bracket legs. A lever arm can extend from each bracket leg to a common lever section.

[0011] Particularly advantageous for the assembly of the connector is a variant in which the housing has two opposing bearing pins with a coding lug, and the locking device has two opposing bearing recesses, each corresponding to the bearing pins and the coding lug. Furthermore, the locking device can be arranged in a predetermined assembly position, and preferably exclusively in the predetermined assembly position, with its bearing recesses on the bearing pins of the housing, so that the locking device is rotatably mounted on the housing.

[0012] Alternatively, a variant is also possible in which the bearing pins do not have a coding nose, which simplifies assembly but carries the risk that the locking device can be unintentionally removed from the housing.

[0013] In order to be able to fix the mating connector, which is properly inserted into the connector, to the connector and to secure the plug connection formed by the mating connector, the locking device is also provided with a primary locking mechanism for locking the connector to the mating connector. The primary locking mechanism is designed to lock the connector and the mating connector together or to fix them together in the locking position of the locking device.

[0014] Preferably, the primary locking device has a pre-locking position and a final locking position, wherein the primary locking device engages with a corresponding element, such as a locking pin mentioned below, without locking the plug connector and the mating connector, and only locks them together in the final locking position. It is further advantageous if the primary locking device is in the pre-locking position during the plugging process, before or when the at least one locking hook is released from its locking position, which is spring-loaded into the respective locking recess, by the unlocking means of the mating connector.

[0015] Furthermore, in a variant with primary locking, the primary locking mechanism is a guide recess designed to accommodate a locking pin of the mating connector corresponding to the guide recess during the plugging process and to guide the locking pin along a predetermined joining path when the locking device is rotated from the plug-in position to the locking position. Such a guide recess can also be referred to as a guide track.

[0016] In order to ensure that the primary locking mechanism cannot be accidentally released by rotating the locking device again, a likewise advantageous further development provides that the locking device has a secondary locking mechanism for locking the primary locking mechanism.

[0017] The secondary locking mechanism is preferably designed to fix the locking device to the housing in the locking position and to secure it against rotation relative to the housing. If the locking device is designed, for example, as a bracket with an integrated lever, the secondary device can be implemented as a slider provided on the lever or on the lever section, which, in the locking position, can be displaced or locked into a counter-element of the housing, fixing the lever to the housing. The counter-element can be designed or arranged on an outer side of the housing.

[0018] In order to prevent any arbitrary rotation or twistability of the locking device, one embodiment variant additionally provides for the locking device to have stop elements. The stop elements, which can also be formed integrally with or on the locking hooks or by the locking hooks, can be brought into contact with limiting surfaces or limiting elements formed by the housing, by which the rotation of the locking device relative to the housing is limited. Preferably, the rotation of the locking device is limited such that it can only be rotated between the plug-in position and the locking position. Any assembly position in which the locking device can be attached to and stored on the housing is correspondingly provided at a rotation angle between the rotation angles of the plug-in position and the locking position.

[0019] Furthermore, the angle of rotation by which the locking device can be rotated between the plug-in position and the locking position is preferably between 120° and 60°, more preferably 90°.

[0020] In an advantageous further development, the locking device is formed in one piece. For example, it is formed from a bent sheet metal or by injection molding, in particular plastic injection molding, wherein the elasticity of the locking hooks is provided by the locking hooks being positioned as or at the end of elongated, springy locking arms.

[0021] The connector further comprises a mating face and a groove extending at least partially around the mating face, into which a projection of the mating connector corresponding to the groove can be engaged during the mating process. The groove and the projection thereby introduced can provide a guiding function for the mating process. Furthermore, the groove, together with the projection, can seal the mating face or the plug connection from the environment; for this purpose, additional sealing means can also be provided in the groove or on the projection.

[0022] It is further provided that the respective locking recess extends into the groove or is open to it and that the at least one locking hook extends into the locking recess and from there into the groove by the spring compression of the respective locking hook or in its locking position locked into the locking recess.

[0023] The at least one latching hook is designed to be released from its locking position, which is sprung into the respective locking recess, during a plugging operation of the plug connector with the mating connector by an unlocking means formed integrally by the projection of the mating connector.

[0024] Additionally, guide bevels can be provided on at least one locking hook, which run in the groove when the respective locking hook is in the locking position and against which the unlocking means can engage. The guide bevels can be used to specifically promote and control the pressing or pushing of the locking hooks out of the grooves or out of the locking position.

[0025] According to the generic type, the plug connector is designed to be plugged into the mating connector along a plug-in direction, wherein in a likewise advantageous embodiment it is provided that an axis of rotation for a rotation of the locking device relative to the housing is orthogonal to the plug-in direction or orthogonal to the plug-in axis along which the plug-in direction runs.

[0026] Accordingly, the connector is designed to be plugged into the mating connector along a plugging direction, wherein the connector is preferably an angled connector in which cables of the connector can be inserted into the housing orthogonally to the plugging direction.

[0027] A further aspect of the invention relates to a plug connection with a plug connector according to the invention and a mating plug connector which can be plugged into the plug connector.

[0028] The features disclosed above can be combined as desired, as long as this is technically possible and they do not contradict each other.

[0029] Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below, together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1: an isometric view of a connector with a locking device in the assembled position; Fig. 2: a side view of the connector with a locking device in the assembled position; Fig. 3: an isometric view of the connector with a locking device in the plug-in position and the mating connector; Fig. 4: a side view of the connector with a locking device in the plug-in position and the mating connector; Fig. 5: a sectional view of the connector with a locking device in the plug-in position and the mating connector; Fig. 6: an isometric view of the connector with a locking device in the locking position and the mating connector; Fig. 7: a side view of the connector with a locking device in the locking position and the mating connector.

[0030] The figures are exemplary schematics. The same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same functional and / or structural features. The figures each show a connector 1 in different views and with a locking device 2 in a different position, wherein in the Figures 3 to 7 Furthermore, a mating connector 3 is shown, which does not belong to the connector 1 but belongs to the plug connection. Although the features are present in each case, for reasons of clarity, not all features are provided with reference symbols in each figure.

[0031] In Figure 1 is a connector 1 with a locking device 2 in isometric view and in Figure 2shown in side view. The locking device 2 is designed as a bracket with an integral lever, which has two opposite legs, on each of which a bearing recess 22 is provided. A lever arm extends from each of the opposite legs or bracket legs to a common lever section. These bearing recesses 22 each correspond to a bearing pin 12 formed on the housing 10. A coding lug 13 is provided on each of the bearing pins 12, which is taken into account by means of a shaping of the bearing recesses 22, so that the locking device 2 can only be pushed onto the bearing pin 12 via the coding lug 13 at a predetermined angle with the bearing recesses 22. The predetermined angle is designated here as α' by way of example and is 30° by way of example. The locking device 2 is therefore in the assembled position.If the locking device 2 is rotated, the shape or outer contour of the bearing recess 22 no longer overlaps with the coding lug 13, so that the locking device 2 can no longer be removed from the housing 10.

[0032] After mounting the locking device 2 on the housing 10, the locking device 2 can be rotated into the plug-in position, which is in the Figures 3 and 4 is shown. In this figure, the angle of rotation of the locking device 2 relative to the housing 10 is designated by α" and is, for example, 90°.

[0033] It is essential that the two locking hooks 21 provided opposite one another spring in or engage in the locking recesses 11 provided on the housing when rotated into the plug-in position, so that the rotational position of the locking device 2 is fixed relative to the housing 10.

[0034] In order to resiliently deflect the locking hooks 21 when the locking device 2 is rotated, guide surfaces can be provided on the housing 10, by means of which the locking hooks 21 are pressed away from the housing 10.

[0035] In the plug-in position, the primary locking device, which in this case is formed by a guide recess 23, is aligned in a predetermined position so that when a mating connector 3 is plugged into the connector 1, a locking pin 33 corresponding to the guide recess 23 engages in the guide recess 23 in a predetermined manner.

[0036] As shown in the sectional view in Figure 5As can be clearly seen, when the mating connector 3 is inserted into the connector 1, a projection 36, which in this case acts integrally as an unlocking means 31, is guided into a groove 16 which completely surrounds a mating face 14 of the connector 1. The locking recesses 11 extend into the groove 16, with the locking hooks 21 also projecting into the groove 16 in their locking position extending into the locking recesses 11. If the mating connector 3 is inserted further into or with the connector 1, the projection 36 pushes the locking hooks 21 out of the groove 16, with the locking pin 33 already engaging with the guide recess 23. For this purpose, guide bevels 26 can also be provided on the locking hooks 21, as shown, which come into contact with the projection 36 when the mating connector 3 is inserted and are pressed outwards with the locking hook 21.

[0037] If the locking hooks 21 are pushed out of the groove 16 when the mating connector 3 is properly inserted into the connector 1, the locking pin(s) 33 are simultaneously in a predetermined position in the guide recess 23.

[0038] With the locking hooks 21 pushed out of the groove 16 and thus no longer fully locked, the locking device 2 can be moved from the plug-in position into the Figures 6 and 7 shown locking position.

[0039] In order to prevent rotation of the locking device 2 in the wrong direction, i.e. away from the locking position, a stop element 25 is formed on the locking device 2, which in the plug-in position rests against the housing 10 or a boundary surface 15 formed by the latter and prevents rotation away from the locking position or rotation over an angle of more than 90° between the locking device 2 and the housing 10.

[0040] When the locking device 2 is rotated from the plug-in position to the locking position, the locking pin 33 is guided into or through the guide recess 23 from a pre-locking position to a final locking position, thereby guiding the mating connector 3 further into the connector 1 and into its final position. In this case, a contact force can also be built up between the connector 1 and the mating connector 3 through the guide recess 23 or the primary locking mechanism.

[0041] In the Figures 6 and 7 It can also be seen that the bracket or a lever section of the locking device 2 comes into contact with the housing 10 and the angle or angle of rotation between the locking device 2 and the housing 10 is thus 0°.

[0042] To prevent the locking device 2 from being accidentally rotated out of the locked position and thus releasing the primary lock, a secondary lock 24, which is designed as a slider in this case, is also provided in the lever section of the locking device 2. The slider can be moved with the locking device 2 in the locked position and locked to the housing 10, so that the locking device 2 can no longer be rotated out of the locked position without releasing the secondary lock 24. List of reference symbols

[0043] 1Connector 2Locking device 3Mating connector 10Housing 11Locking recess 12Bearing pin 13Coding lug 14Mating face 15Boundary surface 16Groove 21Locking hook 22Bearing recess 23Guide recess 24Secondary locking 25Stop element 26Guide bevel 31Release devices 33Locking pins 36Advantage

Claims

1. Plug connector (1) having a locking device (2) for locking the plug connector (1) to a mating plug connector (3) which has been inserted as intended, wherein the plug connector (1) has a housing (10) on which the locking device (2) is rotatably mounted, wherein the locking device (2) forms at least one elastically deformable latching hook (21), wherein the housing (10) has a latching recess (11) for each latching hook (21), and the locking device (2) can be latched and fixed to the housing (10) by means of deflection of the respective latching hook (21) into the latching recess (11) in a predetermined rotational position relative to the housing (10) as soon as the locking device (2) has been operated into a predetermined plug-connection position, wherein the at least one latching hook (21) is designed to be released from its latching position, in which it is deflected into the respective latching recess (11), by an unlocking means (31) of the mating plug connector (3) during a process of plug-connecting the plug connector (1) to the mating plug connector (3) by way of the at least one latching hook (21) being pushed at least partially out of the latching recess (11) by the unlocking means (31), and wherein the locking device (2) with the latching hook (21) released from the latching position can be rotated from the plug-connected position to a locking position when the mating plug connector (3) is plug-connected to the plug connector (1) as intended, the plug connector (1) and the mating plug connector (3) being locked to each other by the locking device (2) in the locking position, characterized in that the plug connector (1) has a plug face (14) and a groove (16) which encircles at least a portion of the plug face (14) and into which a projection (36) of the mating plug connector (3), which projection corresponds to the groove (16), can be brought into engagement during the plug-connection process, and the latching recess (11) extends into the groove (16) and the at least one latching book (21) extends into the groove (16) owing to the deflection of the respective latching hook (21) into the latching recess (11).

2. Plug connector (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the locking device (2) is a clip which engages around at least a part of the housing (10).

3. Plug-in connector (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (10) has two bearing pins (12) which are situated opposite each other and have a coding lug (13), wherein the locking device (2) has two bearing recesses (22) which are situated opposite each other and each correspond to the bearing pins (12) and the coding lug (13), and wherein the locking device (2) can be arranged on the bearing pins (12) of the housing (10) in a predetermined assembly position with their bearing recesses (22), and as a result the locking device (2) is rotatably mounted on the housing (10).

4. Plug connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (2) has a primary locking arrangement for locking the plug connector (1) to the mating plug connector (3), which primary locking arrangement is designed to lock the plug connector (1) and the mating plug connector (3) to each other in the locking position of the locking device (2).

5. Plug connector (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the primary locking arrangement is a guide recess (23) which is designed to receive a locking pin (33) of the mating plug connector (3), the locking pin corresponding to the guide recess (23), during the plug-connection process and to guide the locking pin (33) along a predetermined joining travel when the locking device (2) is rotated out of the plug-connection position to the locking position.

6. Plug connector (1) according to either of preceding Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the locking device (2) has a secondary locking arrangement (24) for locking the primary locking arrangement.

7. Plug connector (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the secondary locking arrangement (24) is designed to fix the locking device (2), in the locking position, to the housing (10) and to secure the locking device against rotation in relation to the housing (10).

8. Plug connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (2) forms stop elements (25) which can be brought into contact with boundary surfaces (15) which are formed by the housing (10) and by way of which the ability of the locking device (2) to rotate in relation to the housing (10) is limited.

9. Plug connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (2) is formed in one piece.

10. Plug connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug connector (1) is designed to be inserted into the mating plug connector (3) along a plug-connection direction, and wherein a rotation axis for rotation of the locking device (2) in relation to the housing (10) is orthogonal with respect to the plug-connection direction.

11. Plug connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug connector (1) is designed to be inserted into the mating plug connector (3) along a plug-connection direction, and wherein the plug connector (1) is an angled plug connector, in the case of which cables can be guided into the housing (10) orthogonally with respect to the plug-connection direction.

12. Plug connection comprising a plug connector (1) according to any of the preceding claims and a mating plug connector (3).

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